Portable electric suction carpet sweeper and cleaner



March 30 1926. 1,578,750

|. J. OWEN PORTABLE ELECTRIC SUCTION CARPET SWEEPER AND CLEANER Filed April 17 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 32 TFO d Owen March 30 1926. 1,578,750

I. J. OWEN PORTABLE ELECTRIC SUCTION CARPET SWEEFER AND CLEANER Filed April 17, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

[r0 J. 0 en A TTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 30, 1926;

UNITED STATE-1S1 1,573,150 PAT T-onion.

IRA J. OWEN, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNORyBY IIESNE ASSIGNMENTS, I

1'0 BISSELL GAIRIPET SWEEPER 00., OF GRAND RAPIDS,1VIICHIG A1 T, A CORPORATION O]? MICHIGAN.

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Application filed April 17,19222. Serial No. 553,966.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IR'A J. OWEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grand Rapids, county of Kent, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements. in Portable Electric Suction Carpet Sweepers and Cleaners, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in portable electric suction carpet sweepers and cleaners. It relates particularly to the electric meansand mechanism.

The main objects of the invention are First, to provide in such a cleaner a compact, efiicient, and'flexible electrical mechanism and-wiring system. i

Second, to provide such a structure that is effectively housed and protected and which is safe from all standpoints.

Further objects, andobjects relating to details and economies of construction and operation will definitely appear from the 'detailed description to follow.

The objects of the invention are. accomplished bv the devices .and means described in the following specification. The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims. P

A structure which is a preferred embodimen; of the invention is fully illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, in whic Fig. I is a detail longitudinal sectional side elevation view on a line corresponding to line 1-1 of Fig. II, of a combination carpet sweeper and suction cleaner enbodying the features of the invention, the shell of the motor housing appearing mainly in full lines and the handlebeing broken away.

Fig. II is an enlargeddetail plan view of the motor casing base and lower end of the handle connection, the cover beingremoved, and showing in dotted line diagrammatically the electrical circuits and connections.

Fig. III is a side elevation view of the complete handle structure broken 1nto sections and the pivotal connection thereof to the motor casing base.

Fig. IV is an enlarged detail vertical longitudinal sectional view through the central portion of the handle grip and crossshift switch mechanism, portions being shown in full lines for the sake of clearness.

Fig. Y is an enlarged detail transverse sectional view taken on line 5--.-5 of Fig. IV, showing details of the socket.

Fig. .VI is an enlarged detail sectional view onth'e irregular inclined line 66 of Figs. I and III, showing the wiring and con-' tact connections and insulations along with the pivotal handle connection. Fig. VII is an enlarged detail sectional view through the pivotal joint at one side of the bifurcated handle taken on the same line 66 of Fig. I,'being a complete detail of the pivotal connection and electrical contaken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines.

The parts of the drawing will be consid ered by their numbers.

" 1 is the main case of an electric suction sweeper having a combination suction and sweeper nozzle, 2, an electric motor 3 on motor base 3,a-nd a suction fan 4. A rotary carpet sweeper brush ,5, indicated by dotted lines in Fig. I, is driven by the pro peller. shaft 7 through suitable connections to thefriction gear 8.

The collected dust and dirt is delivered through the discharge nozzle 9 to any suitable bag or collector, not shown.

The electric motor 3' isof the vertical type and is disposed on a suitable base 10 and is completely housed by the casing-cover 10'. The electric motor is of any suitable type for the purpose. These parts are especially formed so that the electric motor and the base are readily accessible by removing the cover 10 and detaching the base 10. To this end the base 10 is provided with laterally projecting ears 11, 11 which are recessed and provided with insulator In S 12 within the recess. The handle 13 1s bifurcated or forked at 14, the prongs of the fork turned on its pivot without flexing and bendingthe. electric wiring and without any danger of breaking the circuit.

A pair ofwires 18, 19 are connected to the manually controlled cross plug switch 20 interposed in proximity to the hand hold or grip 21 of the handle. The cross pin 22 of the switch is disposed in the central vertical plane'at that point for convenience of operation.

A n electric socket 23 is provided at the end of the horizontal hand hold or grip to receive electric plug 24 which has a flexible contact, tube 25 connected thereto to prevent undue flexing and breakingof the electrio cord 26, which is preferably of the usual lamp cord construction.

lamp socket.

Disposed between the ears 11, 11 is a seg ment bracket 27 containing a series of perforations'in the central vertical plane. A spring plunger bolt 28 very similar to a window stop is disposed in supporting .in-

sulation block 29 in the lower end of the handle 13. It is acted upon by spring 30 and cooperates with the perforated segment 27 and serves'to adjust the handle and lock the same in any position required and per one wire being the lead and the other the return. An electric fuse 35 'is provided in the circuit on the-motor frame inside the casing.

The forks 14 of the handle are hollow and electric conductors 36, 36 lead to and from the contacts 16 to insulated binding screws 37 where electric conductors 38 are attached to the wires 18 and 19 within the hollow handle. Spring contact terminals18 and 19 are provided for conductors 18 and 19 and are disposed upon insulation plug block 29. The lower end of the handle is clamped in the socket by ring nut 13 and can be readily detached.

From this it will be seen that the electric connections here are entirely contained within the tubular parts or within the casing of the machine and are not exposed to friction or wear. The electric cord 26 is protected against friction at the outer end of the handle. Locking means are provided for holding the handle in elevated position when not in use and so that the handle may be released when the machine F:

This anachine is designed to connect to an electric,

in operation, permitting the utmost freedom of manipulation and the perfect supporting of the parts when not in use sothat they are the better protected from injury.

The handle fork herein can, 0 course, be extended and embrace the sides of the easing in place of the rearwardly projecting lugs without materially changing the structure and I have not deemed it necessary to illustratethe same. Also, as .to the electrical connections at the end of the handle, the

socket parts may be reversed without de-- parting from my invention. This is sometimes desirable, especially where hlgh voltages'are used. The exposed socket plug is distinguished from the socket, somdtimes exposing the user to shock.

Electric connections of various kinds have "been prdvided in such relation and it is not the purpose of this patent to claim such bination of a suitable motor and easing, a hollow handle with detachable hollow forks at its lower end with a hand grip portion above, electric connections disposed within the hollow handle and extended into said hollow bifurcations, suitable ears on the motor casing, insulator blocks interposed between the said ears and the said handle, annular contact devices thereon, and connections therefor from the conductors within the handle to the motor within the casing, coacting as specified.

2. In an electric suction cleaner, the combination of a suitable motor and easing, a

hollow handle, electric connections disposed within the hollow handle, a suitable car on the motor casing, insulator blocks interposed between the said ear and the said handle, annular contact devices th ereon,-and connections therefor from the conductor within the handle to the motor within the casing, coacting as specified.

1. In an electric suction cleaner, the com- I 3. In an electric suction cleaner, the combination with the casing, a detachable base portion for the motor on the said casing, a

hollow handle pivotally connected to the said motor base, electric connections disposed within the hollow handle, connections from the conductor within the handle to the motor upon the base whereby the handle and electric connections and motor are a separable unitary structure in the said suction cleaner.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

IRA- J. OWEN. [L.s.] 

